Colby College vs. Columbia

Should I go to Colby College or Columbia University in the City of New York? Compare 50+ facts and figures about the colleges to help you determine if Colby College or Columbia is the better college for you. The CollegeSimply comparison tool allows side-by-side comparison of 50+ statistics and facts for over 2,500 colleges and universities.

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Colby College vs. Columbia University in the City of New York comparison
Colby College Columbia University in the City of New York College 3 College 4
Colby College Columbia University in the City of New York
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Overview

Colby College Columbia
Location Waterville, ME New York, NY
Setting Remote Town Large City
Enrollment 2,299 34,782
Type Private 4 Year Private 4 Year
National Ranking #44 #22
Religious Affiliation - - - -
Status Non-profit Non-profit
Website colby.edu columbia.edu
Team Colors                    

Costs

Colby College Columbia
Tuition (In State) $60,840 $62,570
Tuition (Out of State) $60,840 $62,570
Room & Board $16,330 $16,286
Avg Net Price $16,951 $22,058
Avg Grant Aid $61,714 $61,061
% Receiving Grant Aid 41% 52%

Admission

Colby College Columbia
Admission Chances Calculate Calculate
Applied 16,890 60,879
Admitted 1,286 2,404
Acceptance Rate 7.6% 3.9%
Enrolled % 52.3% 64.1%
Avg High School GPA 3.86 3.91
Typical High School Grades A- A-
Admissions Standards Elite Elite
Applicant Competition Extreme Extreme
ACT Range 32/34 34/35
SAT Range 1430/1540 1490/1580
Submit Test Scores Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional) Not required for admission, but considered if submitted (Test Optional)
Application Deadline Jan 1, 2025 Jan 1, 2025

Academics

Colby College Columbia
Student to Faculty Ratio 10:1 6:1
Popular Majors
  • Social Sciences (23%)
  • General Studies (13%)
  • Biology (10%)
  • English and Literature (8%)
  • Physical Sciences (7%)
  • Social Sciences (26%)
  • Engineering (12%)
  • English and Literature (7%)
  • History (7%)
  • Health Professions (7%)

Outcomes

Colby College Columbia
Graduation Rate 91% 93%
Median Earnings (After 10 years) $73,400 $107,600
Making Student Loan Payments 88% 76%
Median Student Loan Debt $19,345 $21,500
Median Loan Payment $200 $222

Diversity

Colby College Columbia
% Men 48% 46%
% Women 52% 54%
Racial Diversity Medium Very High
HBCU No No
% White 62% 38%
% Black 3% 8%
% Hispanic 6% 13%
% Native American 0% 0%
% Pacific Islander 0% 0%
% Two or More Races 5% 5%
% International 11% 15%
% Unknown Race 7% 3%

Students

Colby College Columbia
% In-State 7% 19%
% Out-of-State 79% 64%

Campus

Colby College Columbia
Campus Housing Yes Yes
Freshman Dorm Required No Yes
Meal Plan Yes Yes
Weekend/Evening Classes No No
Daycare Facility No No
Learn More Details Details

Comparable Facts

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is larger than than Colby College based on total student enrollment (34,782 students vs. 2,299 students)

Colby College vs. Columbia Cost Comparison

Which college is more expensive, Colby College or Columbia?

  • Columbia University in the City of New York is 2.8% more expensive to attend than Colby College for in-state tuition ($62,570.00 vs. $60,840.00)
  • Out of state tuition is 2.8% higher at Columbia than Colby College ($62,570.00 vs. $60,840.00)
  • The typical actual cost that students pay to attend (average net price) is less at Colby College than Columbia ($16,951 vs. $22,058)
  • Living costs (room and board or off-campus housing budget) at Columbia University in the City of New York are 0.3% lower than costs at Colby College ($16,286 vs. $16,330)
  • More students receive financial grant aid at Columbia University in the City of New York than Colby College (52% vs. 41%)
  • The average total grant financial aid received by Colby College students is 1.1% larger than aid received Columbia University in the City of New York ($61,714 vs. $61,061)

Colby College vs. Columbia Admissions Difficulty Comparison

Which college is harder to get into, Colby College or Columbia? Average SAT and ACT scores plus acceptance rates offer good insight into the difficulty of admission between Columbia or Colby College .

  • The average SAT score at Columbia University in the City of New York (1473) is 110 points higher than at Colby College (1363)
  • Incoming Columbia students have a 2 point higher average ACT score (33) than students at Colby College (31)
  • Accepted freshman Columbia students have a 0.05 point higher average high school GPA (3.91) than students at Colby College (3.86)
  • Colby College has a higher acceptance rate (7.6%) than Columbia (3.9%)

Colby College vs. Columbia Graduation Outcomes Comparison

Which is better, Colby College or Columbia? Graduation rate, salary and amount of student loan debt are indicators of a college which offers better outcomes for its graduates. Compare the following outcomes facts between Columbia and Colby College.

  • The graduation rate at Columbia is higher than Colby College (93% vs. 91%)
  • Graduates from Columbia University in the City of New York earn on average $34,200 more per year than Colby College graduates after ten years. ($107,600 vs. $73,400)
  • Colby College students graduate with a $2,155 lower median federal student loan debt than Columbia graduates. ($19,345 vs. $21,500)
  • Colby College graduates are paying $22 less per month on federal student loans than Columbia graduates. ($200 vs. $222)
  • More Colby College graduates are actively paying back their federal student loan debt than former Columbia students, three years after graduation. (88% vs. 76%)

Sources: U.S. Department of Education https://nces.ed.gov IPEDS and College Scorecard https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/